Sweetwoods Park Golf Club

Best hole? I really liked the 18th. It’s a short par 4 with a tree in the middle of the fairway, which makes for a tricky drive, but the second shot is even trickier. The green is down the slope and is well protected by a couple of bunkers. The best way to come in is to float a ball above the bunkers and land it softly on the green so it catches the slope towards the pin. That was too risky as my ball was lying on a bare bit, so I aimed right of the bunkers, hoping my ball would bounce down towards the green. It didn’t. Still got a par thanks to a very good chip.

Après golf? A very good eggs royale before and a soft drink after with our friends on the lovely terrace in the sunshine. Very peaceful, so nice to be away from noisy roads.

Nice round? Good, solid golf and a proper catch up with my friends Hsien and Judith from Cuckfield GC. My meeting Judith is the subject of an ongoing controversy: I’m convinced I met her when I trounced her in a match on her own course, but her memory is clearly going a bit as she insists I never beat her and we met at an Open. Anyway, they’re both great fun and we always have a brilliant time together.

Special memory? The wildlife: a hairy deer scampering across the fairway, a huge heron gliding above us and loads of friendly fishes coming up to say hello when we walked past one of the ponds.

Must play again? Yes. It’s a varied, friendly course in gorgeous countryside. Oh and the Lady Captain came to chat to us, which added to the pleasantness of it all.